0000 UFt TFS 0701M.book - Institutt for samfunnsforskning

Innovasjonsprosesser i den
nordiske periferi
THE ROLE OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT IN PROCESSES
OF INNOVATION IN THE
NORDIC PERIPHERY
In 2003-2004, a project aimed at mapping
and analysing innovative processes
in municipalities in the Nordic
periphery was carried out jointly by
researchers from Norway, Sweden, Finland,
Iceland and the Faroe Islands. In
a context of what may be called
extreme geographical marginality,
more than 300 local innovations were
reported to have occurred during the
previous few years. The concept of
innovation utilized in this study was
NILS AARSÆTHER
nilsaa@sv.uit.no
TORILL NYSETH
torilln@sv.uit.no
Keywords: • Municipalities
• Nordic periphery
• Innovations
• Networking
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© UNIVERSITETSFORLAGET
TIDSSKRIFT FOR SAMFUNNSFORSKNING
VOL 48, NR 1, 5–31
broad, covering public sector as well as
civil society innovations in addition to
the traditional business innovation
concept. Step 2 in the study was a follow-up
analysis of 66 innovations, with
one in each category being selected
from each municipality on the basis of
impact in form of added welfare value
and transformative potential. A comparative
analysis across municipalities
and countries revealed extensive networking
processes, often with international
connections, behind most of the
innovations; in addition, the role of the
municipality was important in almost
every case.